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Fast Facts Australia

Live Better for Less, Overseas

Each day we uncover some of the most desirable-and cheapest-retirement havens on earth. Sign up for our free daily Postcard e-letter and we’ll immediately send you a free research report to help you find your perfect place to live better, for less, overseas.

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International Living Magazine

If money were no object, what would your dream retirement look like?

Each month, we delve into the details you need to take action. We share our contacts. We lay out the pluses and minuses. And we keep you up-to-date on the latest developments in the best overseas havens.

Geography: Australia consists of six distinct landform divisions: The Eastern Highlands (where the most fertile land can be found), Eastern alluvial Plains and Lowlands, South Australian Highlands, Western Plateau, Central Deserts, and Northern Plateau and Basins.

Climate: The vast majority of Australia is arid or semi-arid. Temperate climates can be found in the south-east and south-west corners, and the northern region of the country has a tropical climate.

Government: Australia operates under a Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy. It is also part of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); the Queen is represented by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove (since 28 March 2014). The Governor-General is appointed by the reigning monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. There is no specific term, but it usually lasts five years.

Head of Government: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (since 15 September 2015). The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party or largest party in a coalition of parties in the House of Representatives.

Language: English is the official language of Australia, with Mandarin, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Cantonese, and Vietnamese also spoken throughout the country.

Religions: Forms of Protestantism make up 30.1% of the religions practiced in Australia (Anglican 17.1%, Uniting Church 5.0%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.8%, Baptist, 1.6%, Lutheran 1.2%, Pentecostal 1.1%, other Protestant 1.3%), while 25.3% of people identify as some form of Catholic (Roman Catholic 25.1%, other Catholic 0.2%). The remainder is made up of other Christian (2.9%), Orthodox (2.8%), Buddhist (2.5%), Muslim (2.2%), Hindu (1.3%), and other religions (1.3%) Another 22.3% identify as having no religion, and 9.3% of people are unspecified.

Time Zone: Australia spans over five standard time zones, many of them by half- and quarter-hours, and not all of them use daylight saving time. The standard time zone span runs from UTC+8 to UTC+11 (11 to 14 hours ahead of Washington, D.C. during Standard Time).